hot water heater

[dbolton]

Desertdude said:

"After two years with the Helton in the Tacoma I am extremely happy with how it works. There is enough heat accumulated during driving to not have to run the engine for at least 4 showers. (approx- 3-4 gallons of water)"

Hold it...you use your Helton without the engine off? And it heats up the water ok?

I absolutely believe you (on anything, really), but I've had this thing in my truck for two years and it never occured to me to use it without the engine running...(running outside to try it out)

:jumping:

 

[solarskipper]

Hot Water

Folks,

I am working on a hot H2O tank, but have a question. I understand the need for a vent tube, but what are you using in the way of a filter? It seems that anything foam would allow sand and dirt at some point. What are you doing to address this?

Thanks

 

[Desertdude]

Hold it...you use your Helton without the engine off? And it heats up the water ok?

Yeah it works. I set up fast

Folks,

I am working on a hot H2O tank, but have a question. I understand the need for a vent tube, but what are you using in the way of a filter? It seems that anything foam would allow sand and dirt at some point. What are you doing to address this?

Thanks

I am using a simple RV inline filter I am also careful where I get the source water from.

Using the Helton System there is a bit of coarse foam at the bottom of the 12v pump and I keep this off the bottom of the bucket if I am using creek water.

 

[solarskipper]

Hot H2o Tank

Thanks for the quick reply. Actually I am talking about the filter on the vent tube for those folks who have onboard H2O tanks. I assume they have a vent tube to accommodate the elevation changes and the volume reduction in H2O due to usage.

Air has to get in and out, but then so can dust… I am hoping someone has solved this issue already.

Desertdude, thanks again the simple under hood unity is looking easier and easier ha

 

[Tress]

Just wanted to add my tow cents, still new to all of this and jumped in head first, after researching this topic for a few months without the help of this forum i came across http://www.excelamerica.com/calentadores_eng.htm unit and ended up getting off ebay. No power required, its a propane unit, not too big but should provide plenty of hot water, ill let you all know how it works once im all set up.

 

[articulate]

Actually I am talking about the filter on the vent tube for those folks who have onboard H2O tanks. I assume they have a vent tube to accommodate the elevation changes and the volume reduction in H2O due to usage.

Air has to get in and out, but then so can dust… I am hoping someone has solved this issue already.

Hmm, good point. I haven't put in a filter on the vent tube. Off the top of my head, go to an auto parts store and get an inline fuel filter. Clamp it to the end of your 1/4" vent line.

My vent line is so long that I've never worried about it. But a fuel filter would only be less than $10 to add.

 

[Desertdude]

Sorry for the density :yikes:

On the vent tube;

I have only used the water filler as an air escape. I have a vent tube I use when filling, it has a valve I open when I want to speed up the filling process.

I would rather keep it sealed from all the dust.

 

[ntsqd]

Mark's idea is how I vent older fuel tanks. Should be good to 50 microns or so, 10 microns if you opt for a clunkier EFI filter.

 

[solarskipper]

Hot water on the way

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the input. I took it all in. I ordered all the major parts today, tank, pump, and heater. I have / will pick up the balance when I run by Home Depot and parts store

Mark, after crunching the BTU requirements I ended up going with the 300 watt heater. It is tough on the 250 amp hrs of batteries but seems to be the only achievable system. It will still take almost 5 hours to raise 20 gallons 30 degrees. Of course I am hoping for a little help from the sun to provide free energy.

I think Captain Coor’s (he actually admits drinking that stuff ha) 3 hours and 27 degree rise was helped along by the sun’s heat. According to my numbers, it should take over 4 hours to lift 20 gallons almost 30 degrees. So I am using his experience has a guide that the tank can get a significant addition of heat but the sun it self. I have no way of adding that in to the equation except using his field results. So 300 watts it was.

Vent: I like your idea Desertdude, mount a valve and keep it closed except when using it. Would be great for the flat / lower elevations but with Tahoe less than 2 hours away, I spend a few days up a 6500+ so I need to be able to vent a little bit more than you guys.

Ntsqd and Marks idea on the inline fuel filter was what I have been kicking around. I am not sure that the inline fuel filter is set up for removing patricides from a gaseous media. They are meant to operate in a liquid media. I was think of a way to hack in a breather (oil type) or a lawn mower filter set up… or maybe I just loop the tube down a wrap cheese cloth over it…….

Dang, typical I am over thinking this way to much. I usually just drink water out of an old 8 year old blue plastic can… and if we are lucky I rinse it with baking soda before I fill it and throw it in the truck. It’s just if you are going to build it… build it right.

I will post some pics and progress report when things start to come together. Now I just hope all get here before the mid-April Mojave trail / Death Valley run. Right now a pizza and cold beer are calling my name

 

[ntsqd]

The fuel filter media will pass either a gas or a liquid (try blowing thru one), but block solids larger than some certain size.

I prefer "analysis paralysis" to "over-thinking".........

 

[Lynn]

So, the on-demand water heaters have been mentioned a couple of times. Has anyone set one up?

I used household on-demand heaters when living in Spain, Germany, and Turkey, and some were OK. The older one I had in Spain, though, you had to watch. If you ran the hot water, then turned the water off, and back on again within a few minutes, it would come out scalding hot. Matter of fact, steam would come out of the faucet.

Granted, technology marches on, but I still wonder how well an on-demand heater would work with a push-button sprayer type shower head. Could be dangerous.

 

[Tucson T4R]

So, the on-demand water heaters have been mentioned a couple of times. Has anyone set one up?

I used household on-demand heaters when living in Spain, Germany, and Turkey, and some were OK. The older one I had in Spain, though, you had to watch. If you ran the hot water, then turned the water off, and back on again within a few minutes, it would come out scalding hot. Matter of fact, steam would come out of the faucet.

Granted, technology marches on, but I still wonder how well an on-demand heater would work with a push-button sprayer type shower head. Could be dangerous.

I use the Zodi X-40 for longer base camp stays. It has the same issue. When fired up, you need to have continuous water flow or it will turn into a steam generator. The hot watr temp control is touchy and it would be easy to cook yourself if used during a shower. I use it to recycle water in a container until the entire water source is up to a good tempature, then I turn the burner off and just pump the at temp shower water. Not the best system, but it does heat water quickly.

 

[Green Ganesha]

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=130524&postcount=7

 

[stevenmd]

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=130524&postcount=7

Trevor - that omega 200 unit... does it require a pump also or can it suck the water out of a bucket on its own power?

 

[Green Ganesha]

Trevor - that omega 200 unit... does it require a pump also or can it suck the water out of a bucket on its own power?

My Omega 2000 heater requires a pump. They also sell a "zero pressure" version, which I'm guessing maybe doesn't. (Not sure what "zero pressure" refers to.) But if you're looking for something portable to draw from a bucket, the Omega 2000 may be a little overkill. It's better suited to a more permanent installation, such as on a trailer. (Mine draws from the trailer's pressurized water tanks.)